Diocese of Barcelona

(Barcino).

One of the suffragan dioceses of the
Archdiocese of Tarragona. The city of this name is the capital of
Catalonia and of the province of Barcelona. It is situated on the
coast of north-eastern Spain, and is familiarly known as the
"Queen of the Mediterranean".

HISTORY

Barcelona is one of the most ancient
cities of Spain, and the most important after the capital. Founded
by Hamilcar in the ancient region of Laletana, it was in the
possession of the Carthaginians until they were driven out of
Spain when it passed under the power of the Romans, who favoured
it in many ways. Julius Caesar bestowed on it the name of Julia
Augusta Faventia in recognition of the support given him in
his struggle with Pompey; later he made it a Roman colony and gave
it to the jus Latii, which conferred on the inhabitants,
although still belonging to Hispania Tarraconensis, the
full privileges of Roman citizenship. The city remained
unimportant until Ataulf, King of the Visigoths, chose it for his
residence (415). Later it passed successively into the hands of
the Arabs (713) and the Franks (801). Finally, Wilfrid the Hairy
declared his independence and gave the Spanish March, or the Marca
Hispanica, as the Franks had called it, the name of the County
of Barcelona. It remained under the independent government of its
own counts until the marriage of Petronilla, daughter of Ramiro
the Monk, with the Count of Barcelona (1137) united Aragon and
Catalonia. After 1164, when Petronilla resigned in favour of her
son Alfonso, the two states formed but one kingdom. Barcelona,
being situated on the shores of the Mediterranean and on the
military road between Spain and France, was comparatively easy of
access, and the Gospel was preached there by the immediate
disciples of the Apostles. The See of Barcelona, unlike most very
ancient sees, whose origins are obscure, has preserved catalogues
of its bishops from Apostolic times, and although all the names
given cannot be admitted as authentic, the greater number are
handed down in all the catalogues. In the twelfth century the
diocese was restored by Ramon Berengar, Count of Barcelona, since
which time the succession of bishops has been uninterrupted. In
the long line of bishops we find many illustrious names. St.
Severus, a native of the city, was martyred by Dacianus in the
reign of Diocletian. St. Pacianus (360-390) is famous for the
clearness and spirituality of his doctrinal writings; in chapter
cvi of his "De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis", St. Jerome
praises the chaste life of Pacianus, his eloquence, and his
writings on baptism and penance, also those against heretics,
particularly the Novations. St. Oligarius, noted for the great
purity of his life, was the first metropolitan of this province.
Bishop Urquinaona was revered for his great charity; one of the
handsomest plazas of Barcelona is still called by his name. Among
the saints of this diocese are: the famous virgin, St. Eulalia, a
martyr of the third century, whose relics are preserved in a rich
shrine in the crypt of the cathedral; Sts. Juliana and Sempronia,
virgins and martyrs; the African saints, Cucuphas and Felix,
martyred in the city of Barcelona; St. Raymund of Pennafort,
founder of the Order of Mercy for the Redemption of Captives,
confessor of Gregory IX (1227-41), and compiler of the famous
"Decretals", in which he collected the scattered decrees
of popes and councils.

COUNCILS OF BARCELONA

Many councils and assemblies of
Spanish bishops were held in Barcelona, two provincial councils in
the Visigothic period. The first (c. 540), at which the
metropolitan and six bishops assisted, promulgated ten canons,
ordaining that the Miserere should be said before the
Canticle; that in the Vespers and Matins the benediction should be
given to the people; that clerics should not wear the hair long or
shave their beards; that penitents should wear the hair short, put
on a religious garb, and devote their time to prayer; that the
"beatific benediction" should be given to the sick so
that they could receive Holy Communion, and that the decrees of
the Council of Chalcedon (451) with regard to monks should be
observed. At the Second Provincial Council (c. 599), attended by
the metropolitan and twelve bishops, four canons were promulgated,
the first and second prohibiting any fee for Holy orders and for
the chrism used for Confirmation; the third and fourth commanding
the observation of the canons referring to those awaiting Holy
orders, and excommunicating those who, after having made a vow of
chastity and changed their secular dress for the religious garb,
should contract a carnal marriage, even if a woman had been forced
by violence, unless she immediately separated from the one who had
violated her; a similar excommunication was also pronounced on
those who married after they had received the "blessing of
penance" (benedictio paenitentiae), i.e. penitents who
had taken an additional vow of continency. Other councils were
also held there: that of 1125, presided over by St. Olegarius, the
Metropolitan and Bishop of Barcelona; that of 1339 to decide in
the matter of the subsidies asked from the clergy; that of 1377, a
quasi-plenary council; that of 1387, on the occasion of the
Western Schism, which proclaimed legitimate the election of
Clement VII, those of 1417, 1517, and 1564 which are of no special
importance. In 1904 the Congreso Hispano-Americano de las
Congregaciones Marianas was held at Barcelona and was attended
by thousands of persons for the purpose of making uniform laws for
the congregation and that of the Luises.

MONUMENTS

Among the many monuments of the city,
the most important is the cathedral, built in the early days of
the Church in honour of the Holy Cross. It was rebuilt by order of
Berengar I, the Old, Count of Barcelona, and his wife, Dona
Almodis, and consecrated in 1058. In the thirteenth century it was
enlarged, and was finally completed in 1338. It is Gothic in
style, one its most notable features being the "door of the
Inquisition", a beautiful piece of work composed of small
columns and pointed arches on a diminishing scale, which conceals
the jasper steps that lead to the sanctuary. The façade La
Piedad, composed of graceful pointed arches, is one of the purest
examples of Spanish Gothic. The church of St. Severus unites in
its façade all the architectural charms of the fifteenth
century in which it was built; its main tabernacle is noted for
the rich carving of its pointed arches; its chapel of St. Eulalia
is exceedingly delicate and beautiful. The church of Santa Ana has
two pictures by Juncosa. The ancient church of Santa Maria del Mar
is also a beautiful specimen of Gothic architecture. Santa Maria
del Pino has the most spacious and lofty nave of all the Gothic
churches in Barcelona. The church of Sts. Justo and Pastor was the
first dedicated to the worship of the true God in Barcelona.
Judging form its present appearance, the unfinished Templo
Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia, built form the alms of the
faithful, will be the finest ecclesiastical edifice in Barcelona.
The famous sanctuary of Monserrat is outside the city. Apart from
its antiquity and religious interest, it is remarkable for its
wealth of precious stones, and for the beautiful chapels
representing the mysteries of the Rosary; all these are modern and
are an evidence of the piety of the faithful. The Diocese of
Barcelona also possesses archives of great value in which many
precious documents, saved from the Almohad conquest under Almanzor
(1184-98), are preserved, as well as the priceless books called
Exemplaria, wherein are chronicled ecclesiastical
functions, oaths of kings, and other notable events, which make
them the best source of information for the history of Catalonia.

CHARITY AND EDUCATION

It would be difficult to find in
Spain another city where Christian charity is manifested in more
ways than in Barcelona. Besides many general and private hospitals
in the city, there exist a multitude of asylums for all classes of
persons maintained by religious congregations and pious
associations. Notable among them is the girls' orphan asylum of
San Jose de la Montana. The asylum and maternity home (casa de
lactancia) of Bressol, for the children of labourers, takes
care annually of 1,200 healthy and 2,300 sick children. The asylum
of La Sagrada Familia cares for about 300 children of working
mothers. The asylum of La Madre de Dios del Carmen of
Hostafranchs, besides sheltering about 600 children and old
persons, has a pious association especially for arranging
marriages between persons who have been living together illegally,
and legitimizing the children; in one year it procured 120 such
marriages. The asylum of St. Raphael is for scrofulous children,
and the asylum Del Parque relieves annually 94,234 poor, and
provides sleeping accommodations for 20,000 poor annually. The
house of the Good Shepherd shelters about 300 young women rescued
from houses of ill fame. The asylum of the Visitation assists
young women who are in want, and in the nineteen years of its
existence has preserved the purity and virtue of more than 3,000
young women. There are between forty and fifty other institutions
for charitable purposes, among them the Duran asylum for
incorrigible boys. Two have for their object the distribution of
food and the serving of meals to working-men; one distributed
117,125 free rations in one year, and the other fed about 300
working-men daily. The Montes Pios of Nuestra Senora de la
Esperanza, of Barcelona, of Santa Madrona, and of Nuestra Senora
de Monserrat, are societies for the aid of female domestics and
working-men. An association of fathers of families has in one year
prevented the publication of 45,000 obscene books and photographs.

In addition to the diocesan seminary,
there are Christian Doctrine classes attended by 6,000 children,
and Sunday Schools, supervised by 161 young ladies, where over
2,000 women received instruction, and are thus prevented from
attending public dance-halls. Connected with each of the asylums
before mentioned is one or more schools; the religious orders
conduct free schools attended by 12,000 boys and girls. There are
8 colleges, under the Jesuits, the Piarists, and other religious
orders.

A number of Catholic periodicals are
published in the diocese: the "Boletin Eclesiastico de la
Diocesis", the "Revista Popular", founded and
directed by Dr. Sarda y Salvany, author of the famous book
"Liberalismo es Pecado", which as been translated into
many languages; the "Comentarius Scholaris", published
by the diocesan seminary students; "Anales del culto a San
Jose"; the "Mensajero del Nino Jesus de Praga";
"Anales de Nuestra Senora del Sagrado Corazon"; "La
Monta de San Jose", official organ of the association; "El
Boletin Salesiano"; "Las Misiones Catolicas"; "La
Hormiga de Oro"; "La Revista Social"; and "Los
Estudios Franciscanos". "El Correo Catalan" is the
only strictly Catholic newspaper. It has the blessing of the
sovereign pontiff, and counts many of the clergy among its
contributors.